2014 Year in Review...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

 2014 started off... COLD!  I was in full training mode to run the 10K portion of our Little Rock Marathon the upcoming March.  It was very difficult running in such cold temps, but critical if I was going to stay on track.  But, first...
 

February 2014

I adopted Camille from a poodle rescue organization...She is the sweetest girl!

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March 2014

The Little Rock Marathon 2014 ... Blair flew in to run the 10K with me. It was cold and raining - we ran in garbage bags except to cross the finish line and for photos.  But, in spite of the weather, it was a great day and a great event.

 

Collage of Blair's photos

Collage of my pics

 

May 2014
Camille and I ran our first official "Dog Jog" at MacArthur Park, LR 

 June - July - August 2014

The summer months were spent continuing my backyard gardening and getting new plantings in the ground for the pergola as well as watering. 

September 2014
Runway for a Cause!

Gearing up for Breast Cancer Awareness month - which is October.  I started early by participating

in Susan G Komen-Arkansas' Runway for a Cause event.  It's the annual luncheon with breast cancer survivors walking the runway in fashion outfitted by local retailers. 

 My favorite photo from the event.

 AY Magazine shoot...part of the Runway for a Cause.

KARK4 Live TV segement...also part of the Runway for a Cause.

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AFA
My new motto:  Strong is the new Skinny!

AFA - Arkansas Fitness and Athletics came into my life.  I met the owner, Jim, at a birthday party of a mutual friend.  I visited Jim's place - Arkansas Fitness and Athletics - this is not just any "gym" - his philosophy for fitness / working out for someone my age and fitness level were impressive.  I joined!   After working out at AFA 3 times a week, for about 4 to 6 weeks, my running improved dramatically.  My pace increased significantly and I definitely could feel and see a big difference in my overall strength.  Stronger muscles made a big improvement.  Hence, my new motto - Strong is the new Skinny!
 

October 2014 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and, of course, the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Little Rock.  I participated in the competitive run this year - had a great run!



 

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 Soaring Wings Half Marathon

October 25, 2014

Blair traveled here for a visit and, together, we ran the Soaring Wings Half Marathon in Conway as a relay team. 

October 26, 2014 - My Dad's 80th Birthday Party!

 My family with my parents. 

R to L: Randy, me, my Mother, my Father, and Blair.

 

November 2014 - Thanksgiving...

My parents joined Randy and me for Thanksgiving.  Blair wasn't able to fly in from NYC to join us.  This was my first official holiday without being with Blair.  However, she was able to fly in for Christmas.

 

Christmas at HOME!

Blair flew in for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  The three of us had Christmas Eve brunch and my parents joined us Christmas Day.  We had our traditional Beef Wellington dinner.  I loved spending the two days with Blair at home.  It was a whirlwind of travel but worth every moment.  Blair was very sick so no photo ops with her and Camille wouldn't get in front of the tree!  Neither girl cooperated with me for great Christmas photos - but, I got lucky with a couple of Camille with me. 

 

Our first Christmas photo

The highlight of my year?  Yes, you know it!  Adopting Camille!  There's no shortage of photos of her, to say the least.  Here are a few of my favorites...

"The photo!" 

The one the rescue organization sent to me.  One look at her and I knew she was the one!

 

Two weeks later - Camille and Blair meet for the first time!

 

She is soooooooooooo beautiful, to me!

Camille's first Christmas!

I think we rescued each other! 


Farewell to 2014 and Hello 2015...



 



The Child in me at Christmas...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

Everyone's a child at Christmas, right?    While getting out the Christmas decorations - stacks and stacks of plastic tubs neatly stacked in the garage - I wonder whether it's time to grow up about my Christmas decorating.

I mean, I began my Christmas collection some years ago.  I started decorating everywhere.  I like my house decorated for Christmas. I admit, with each added year, I don't necessarily like doing it - but I love it once it's done.   Kind of like my running - I don't always like doing it, but I love having done it. 

I have always enjoyed collecting special ornaments for the tree, for the table, and for the garlands.  I marvel at the splendor of my first European glass ornaments as well as the inexpensive cardboard reindeers from years past.  I admit I have amassed a large collection over the years.  My tree still adorns ornaments from my very first tree.  They might be in the back - you know, the spots where less fortunate ornaments often hang. They have a place in my heart.  I can't abandon them just because they aren't now as beautiful to me as I once thought. 

I always enjoy unwrapping my treasures. There is a real ceremony to it, unwrapping each one, unfolding the tissue paper or unpacking the cotton wadding that has cocooned the ornaments through the year. And, I remember so many special moments by looking at the ornaments, one by one, as I hang them on the Christmas tree. 

The garland above the sideboard in the dining room.

Back to the classic - red velvet ribbon!

Ribbons change sometimes but the ornaments remain.

Years ago, I began to focus on my collection of christopher radko ornaments as well as enhancing the garlands and tree with three or four times the strands of lights.  I expanded to decorating the dining table and chandelier lavishly. 

Back to growing up -  Is it time to discipline myself to a more restrained appraoch to my decorating.  Will the child in me at decorating for Christmas disappear?  I don't think so.  I love my aging collection of Christmas ornaments and decorations.  Enjoy being in my home, my holiday decorated home, soaking in the ready for Christmas spirit that ornaments and decorations and hospitality can genuinely create. 

I enjoy admiring my many years worth of decorations in the spirit of Christmas.  My house full of ornaments, garlands, trees, and lights to create my child like holiday spirit at Christmas.

 

The beautiful tree, twinkling and glittering, wearing its lovely burden of memory.  Every year the Christmas tree is the most beautiful tree ever, to me, anyway!   The memories and delights of my Christmas traditions, that I myself have created over the years, will remain. The magical garlands, lavish lights and ornaments remain. The music will still play and although I'll miss the three of us not sitting around the tree with tissue paper covering the floor, the Child in me at Christmas remains.


Tis the season,
Gayla